API Mission
The Mission of the Association for Pathology Informatics is to promote the field of pathology informatics as an academic and a clinical subspecialty of pathology.

Specific Aims
The data sets used in pathology informatics include clinical tests, anatomic pathology reports, image files, telepathology data, and large scale experiments including gene, proteomic and tissue array studies. The Association will support advances in the field of Pathology Informatics through research, education, scientific meetings, and through electronic and printed communications. The Association will develop standards for reporting, transferring, storing, and merging confidential and other pathology-related information. The Association will play an active role in legal, ethical, social, regulatory, and governmental issues related to pathology informatics, and this will also seek to develop relationships with other professional societies and industry partners that share similar interests and goals.

What We Do
Pathology Informatics involves collecting, examining, reporting, and storing large complex sets of data derived from tests performed in clinical laboratories, anatomic pathology laboratories, or research laboratories in order to improve patient care and enhance our understanding of disease-related processes.

Pathology Informaticians seek to continuously improve existing laboratory information technology and enhance the value of existing laboratory test data, and develop computational algorithms and models aimed at deriving clinical value from new data sources.

Recent API Achievements

API is the only national organization dedicated exclusively to the field of service/research pathology informatics and supports a set of wide-ranging educational efforts in the discipline.

API co-sponsors the two major Pathology Informatics meetings in the country - APIII and Lab InfoTech Summit (formerly AIMCL); collaborative educational efforts have also been launched for presentations at the CAP, ASIP, and AMP annual meetings following the success of the API program segment at the recent CAP/San Diego meeting.

Substantial member discounts are offered for registration at both APIII and the new Lab InfoTech Summit meeting that completely offsets the cost of (regular) member API annual dues.

API provides Pathology Resident travel awards to APIII, AIMCL/Lab InfoTech Summit, in collaboration with the CAP Foundation, to foster greater interest among pathology trainees in the discipline.

API has published a comprehensive set of learning objectives and skill sets for training in Pathology Informatics for pathology residents to encourage the integration of a high quality informatics experience within pathology residency programs (Henricks et al, Arch Pathol Lab Med 2003; 127: 1009-1018).

API has initiated an annual Honorary Informatics Fellow Award to recognize the contributions made by the thought leaders in Pathology Informatics; the award is presented at either APIII or Lab InfoTech Summit.

The API listserv provides a forum for spirited discussion about informatics topics and allows members access to breaking news in the industry.

The recently redesigned API Web site provides information about the organization and also links to other pathology and bioinformatics resources.

API provides a leadership role in the promotion of data standards relating to both pathology research and service pathology to encourage effecting reporting and integration of pathology data.

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API Individual Membership Application Form (PDF)
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API Corporate/ Organization Membership Application Form (PDF)
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